Madonna Delivers Gay Rights Speech During Concert in St. Petersburg

Madonna is holding nothing back. At her concert in St. Petersburg on Thursday night (Aug. 9), the 53-year-old star took a moment to make an impassioned speech in support of gay rights.

“The gay community here, and all around the world, have the same rights, to be treated with dignity, with respect, with tolerance, with compassion, with love,” she said to the audience.

Wristbands, which support of the LGBT community, were given out at the show. “If you’re with me, I want to see your pink arm bands!” she continued. “I said, are you mother f—ing with me?”

The Material Girl made a reference to Martin Luther King Jr. in her speech, and also dismissed those who justify intolerance with religious beliefs. “It’s in every holy book: love thy neighbor as thyself,” she said, adding, “You cannot use religion to treat other people badly. Let’s all go out into the world and spread this message of love, and live our lives without fear.”

Madonna has had quite the week. On Tuesday (Aug. 7), she took a moment during her Moscow show to voice her support of the band Pussy Riot. According to Rolling Stone, the members of the all-female band are on trial for staging a “punk prayer” against Vladimir Putin in a Russian Orthodox cathedral in March.